Identification and analysis of therapy used by pregnant women II. Author: Eliška Vachudová1 Tutor: PharmDr. Josef Malý, Ph.D.1 1 Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University Introduction and objective: Taking medication during pregnancy often implies higher risk of adverse effects for pregnant woman as well as for the foetus. In the Czech Republic, there is not enough information for rational drug taking during gravidity yet. The purpose of the practical part was to identify and analyze therapy used by pregnant women by questionnaires, in which respondents could show their knowledge and awareness of over-the-counter drugs, medical devices, food supplements and herbal and homeopatic remedies. Methods: The data collection lasted from August 2017 to March 2018 and was performed in the form of questionnaires at the Domažlice Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Nurses played a vital role to distribute the questionnaires and instruct every newly admitted woman how to fill them. The questionnaire was anonymous, contained 50 questions of open, semi-open and closed types and included introduction letter with the entrance criteria. After filling in, they were transformed into electronic ones using Google Forms. Collected data were...

Abstract available in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

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Yes / Being obese or gaining excessive weight during pregnancy can increase health risks for mother and baby. Adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity reduces these risks and has long-term health benefits for women. Despite this, women do not always maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Aim To explore the factors that encouraged and prevented a diverse group of women to maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Methods A total of 12 women participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, underpinned by the theory of planned behaviour. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim then subject to deductive thematic analysis. Findings Four themes emerged: women's knowledge of a healthy lifestyle, sociocultural influences, physical health and health professional support. These influenced women's intentions and actual behaviours during pregnancy. Conclusions Enhanced health professional advice may motivate women to adopt a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. This could be through new means such as health technology.

Yes / This study aimed to determine the predictors of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) towards Family Planning (FP) among pregnant Fijian women. A cross-sectional study was conducted over two months in 2019 with adult pregnant women attending the Antenatal Clinic (ANC) at Ba Mission Hospital (BMH), Fiji. Data was collected using a self-administrated questionnaire. Statistical analysis included correlation tests and regression analysis in determining predictors of KAP. 240 pregnant women participated in this study with a mean age of 26.02 (± SD = 4.13). The results showed a moderate level of knowledge (mean 14.95, SD ± 3.15), positive attitude (mean 20.56, SD ± 5.68), and good practice (mean 4.97, SD ± 1.73). Linear regression identified that women with more than seven children had a knowledge score of 3.65, lower than null parity (t value = -2.577, p = 0.011). Women aged 20 to 24 had a 6.47 lower attitude score than women aged 18 to 19 (t value = -2.142, p = 0.033). Women in defacto relationships had a 2.12 lower attitude score compared to the married category (t value = -2.128, p = 0.034). Fijian women of Indian descent had a 1.98 lower attitude score than the I Taukei women (t value = -2.639, p = 0.009). Women aged 30-34 had 2.41 lower practice scores than those aged 18-19 (t value = -2.462, p = 0.015). This study found a medium knowledge of FP among pregnant women. These findings support a recommendation for further research to implement effective strategies.

Weight gain during pregnancy, relationships among body image, body weight standards, and attitudes toward weight gain were investigated. Weight gain recommendations, based on preconceptional weight status (PCWS) reflected current practices in prenatal care at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk, VA, and provided a basis on which to categorize weight gain as inadequate, appropriate, and excess. Women who experienced excess weight gain (EWG) were compared to those who experienced appropriate weight gain (AWG) or inadequate weight gain (IWG) to identify their characteristics. Of the 138 women studied, 54 experienced EWG. Weight gain recommendations for overweight women were similar to those for normal weight women, 20-25% PCW. Obese women who lost weight or gained less than 15 pounds were identified with the inadequate weight gain group. / Master of Science

The effects of an aerobic walking program, from 22 to 30 wk gestation, on aerobic fitness, riboflavin and thiamin status, and birth outcome were studied in 28 healthy, pregnant women, 24-36 yr of age, receiving vitamin-mineral supplements. Aerobic capacity was evaluated by measurements of heart rate (HR) and relative oxygen consumption (VO₂, ml/kg/min) during two submaximal treadmill walking tests (22 and 30 wk). HR responses were significantly lower for walking subjects (W; n=l8) compared to nonwalking (NW; n=l0) at two (~2.9 METS) and four (~3.8 METS) min, and near significant at six (~4.6 METS) min of the 30 wk tests. HR at two min of exercise for NW subjects increased significantly from 22 to 30 wk. Oxygen consumption for W decreased significantly from 22 to 30 wk at two, four, and six min of exercise. Comparison of VO₂ changes (22 to 30 wk) between W and NW indicated a significant difference at six min and near significance at four min. Riboflavin and thiamin status, as determined by erythrocyte glutathione and transketolase activity coefficients, was adequate for 86% of the subjects with respect to riboflavin and 96% for thiamin. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.58) between aerobic activity scores and ETKAC values (W group). Participation in a walking program slightly improved aerobic capacity without affecting birth outcome or riboflavin and thiamin status in pregnant women taking vitamin-mineral supplements. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

INTRODUCTION: Chemical exposures to US pregnant women have been shown to have adverse health impacts on both mother and fetus. A prior paper revealed that US pregnant women in 2003-2004 had widespread exposure to multiple chemicals. The goal of this research is to examine how environmental chemical exposures to US pregnant women have changed from 2003 to 2010 and to look further at the extent of simultaneous exposure to multiple chemicals in US pregnant women using biomonitoring data available through NHANES (the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey). METHODS: Using available NHANES data from the following cycles (2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010), we analyzed how environmental chemical exposures changed over time. Covariates were used and data was weighted to reflect the population of pregnant US women. Each cycle was then compared to the 2003-2004 cycle in order to assess how exposures have changed over time. We then looked at the data in an entirely different fashion. We examined the total number of chemicals detected in a given pregnant woman by chemical group. Finally, we looked at the total number of detects across various chemical groups and used the Fisher Exact Test to study how the distribution of detections changed in 2009-2010 compared to 2003-2004. RESULTS: While at least one-third of the chemicals analyzed showed one cycle that differed, exposure rates of individual chemicals were generally not increasing from 2003-2010. Median number of detections over chemical groups also did not show much difference over time. However, analysis of the change in frequency distributions revealed that, for some chemical groups, the frequency of detects in US pregnant woman significantly increased in 2010 compared to 2003. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread chemical exposures were seen in US pregnant women from 2003 through 2010. The number of chemical analytes detected in US pregnant women’s bodies is rising. Many chemicals studied had similar mechanisms of action and/or similar adverse health outcomes upon exposure which is known to result in a cumulative health effect. This research suggests that we need to focus not only on exposure rates of individual chemicals but also on the overall number of chemicals detected when assessing the overall picture of environmental chemical exposures to pregnant women in the US.

Thesis (M.CUR.) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Indigenous practices (IPs) are experiences generated by people who are living in a specific region context and a specific cultured group. IPs are shaped by cultural traits that are passed from one generation to the next. The practices are rooted and embedded in such a society and, therefore, the practices become part of the people’s lifestyle. It is difficult to try and change these practices, since people have adhered to them throughout their entire lives. The believe system plays a major role in health care seeking behaviour of individuals because they are informed by the IPs that are observed in their environment (Shaik & Hatcher, 2005). IPs are stored in people’s memories and are expressed in songs, dances, beliefs, rituals, cultural values, myths, and healing of diseases by using herbs. During pregnancy, IPs are still applied worldwide. Ayaz and Efe (2008) indicate that it occurs mostly in Turkey and Africa where women’s reassurance is depending on the local context and meaning of pregnancy. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To determine indigenous practices of pregnant women at the Dilokong Hospital in the Greater Tubatse Municipality of the Limpopo Province.This was achieved by the exploring and describing the indigenous practices of pregnant women in the antenatal (ANC) clinic of the maternity ward at the Dilokong Hospital.. DESIGN AND METHOD A qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual research design was used for the participants to describe the indigenous practices by pregnant women. Data was collected by means of unstructured one-on-one interviews in maternity unit of the ANC clinic at the Dilokong Hospital of the Greater Tubatse Municipality. Ethical considerations as described by Denosa (2000) were adhered to in order to ensure the v quality of the study. The criteria for trustworthiness were observed as stipulated in Babbie and Mouton (2009).Fifteen pregnant women were interviewed. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Four themes with sub-themes emerged from the data analysis by using Tech’ṡ open coding approach (Creswell 2006, Botma, Greef, Mulaudzi & Wright, 2010). Four themes were emerged namely; indigenous practices based on ancestral knowledge; indigenous practices based on spiritual diviners versus church principles; restricted practices versus instructions followed during pregnancy and labour and indigenous practices during labour and delivery. It is recommended that a national IP strategy needs to be developed to provide a framework and platform to support and promote grass roots IPs into mainstream development in the health care system in relation to midwifery practice. CONCLUSION The study findings indicated that IPs were regarded as an honourable health intervention by THPs, families, and pregnant women. They showed trust in methods used to preserve pregnancy, labour, and delivery, although, the indigenous practices by pregnant women still continue. Indigenous practices such as cords around their waists, are still observed during physical examinations. However, there is a reduction of prescribed potions mixed with cool drinks for use to accelerate labour and to prevent negative consequences because the potential toxicity has been explained during the provision of health education. These findings call for health care professionals to emphasise training and workshops for the THPs church diviners that are the fundamental principle of effective implementation of IPs to enhance improvement in the prevention of complications during pregnancy, labour and delivery. KEYWORDS Pregnant women Indigenous practice Indigenous knowledge Antenatal care

Overweight and obesity are a growing national concern, particularly among women and selected minority populations (Ayala, Elder, Campbell, Slymen, Roy, Engelberg, et al., 2004; NHANES, 2003). Pregnant women bear a disproportionate risk of becoming overweight or obese (Greene, Smickikias-Wright, Scholl, & Karp, 1988; Gunderson et al., 2000; Rossner, 1999). Although exercise is a key factor in preventing overweight and obesity, women often decrease their exercise levels during pregnancy (McTigue, Garrett, & Popkin, 2002; Viau, Padula, & Eddy, 2002; Zhang & Savitz, 1996). Reported percentages of regular exercise during pregnancy have been documented as low as 5% in a predominately White population (Steele, 2002). Although there is ample evidence demonstrating that Hispanic women exercise less than White women during every other stage of life, little is known about how pregnant Hispanic and White women compare in exercise behaviors (Crespo, Smit, Andersen, Carter-Pokras, & Ainsworth, 2000). The purpose of this research was to study low-income White and Hispanic pregnant women to (1) determine the nature and the extent of exercise behaviors both before pregnancy and during pregnancy (2) identify factors that influence exercise behaviors (3) determine if there are differences in factors that influence exercise between ethnicities. Data were collected via a questionnaire developed by the author. A sample of 301 White and Hispanic pregnant women were recruited through the Women, Infants, and Children [WIC] agencies in four selected counties in Oregon. Although ACOG guidelines provide clear information on the benefits of exercise, over 90% of the women surveyed did not exercise at ACOG guidelines. A majority of the women, 57.8%, actually decreased exercise during pregnancy. Although ethnic differences did not exist in the prevalence of exercise during pregnancy, differences between ethnicities were found in the variety of exercise activities performed and behavioral factors that predicted exercise behavior. Analysis of these differences and the factors contributing to the overall low levels of exercise may provide critical information for future intervention program planning. Well targeted programs will ultimately decrease the excessive weight gain and subsequent increased risk for overweight or obesity that pregnant women face. / Graduation date: 2006